By Howard Walker, Staff ReporterMARLON SAMUELS will leave the island today for the United States where he will join several other West Indies players and participate in a league with some professionals.
"They have invited over some pros to come and play over there. Myself, along with Wavell Hinds and Merv Dillion and others have been playing over there," Samuels said of their year-to-year involvement.
The 23-year-old right-handed batsman, who has so far played 19 Tests, scoring 874 runs at an average of 29.13, already has a century notched beside his name in the league in the United States.
He has been out of the Windies team for the past seven months, having been told to do a knee surgery after recurring pains shortened his South African tour.
There are indications that he may be recalled to the regional team soon, however, as the selectors named him in a provisional 30-man squad on Tuesday for the ICC Champions' Trophy event that will take place in England from September 10-25 later this year.
'MY MISSION'
The West Indies team is currently touring England and responding to queries about his inclusion for the upcoming tournament, albeit on a provisional basis, Samuels says winning back his place in the regional side "... was always my mission".
As to his physical state, moreso his nagging knee injury, Samuels says everything is good and he is raring to go.
He showed tremendous form recently by scoring a century, followed by an unbeaten triple century while representing his local club, Melbourne, in the just-concluded Supreme Ventures Super Cup competition.
His innings of 300 not out lasted for 418 minutes during which he faced 327 deliveries, smashing 27 fours and eight sixes in a dazzling display.
The century was scored prior to the West Indies team's departure to England for the current series and Samuels intimated that he might have been given some consideration for this tour on the basis of that knock.
"I scored a century before the team left and I am sure everyone knew that I was playing, especially the selectors and they didn't pick me but then I went on and scored 300," Samuels said, adding that he was neither disappointed nor disheartened at being left here.
